For release Sunday, June 17, 2012

At about 4:30pm Saturday, deputies were dispatched to a residential area on CR 276 in Nathrop after receiving a call from an area resident that a man living nearby was shooting a firearm at their house.  Deputies arrived within a few minutes and established a perimeter around the area, blocking traffic on the adjoining county roads.  Deputies heard several gunshots as they established a field command post.  The Chaffee County communications center broadcast a Code Red reverse telephone alert to nearby homes instructing residents to remain inside.

Deputies’ efforts to resolve the incident were hampered by a lack of trees or structures that could provide cover for an advance on the subject’s residence or to establish communications with him.  Eventually the man left his residence and began walking outside with a revolver in his hand. He then approached a neighbor’s home, pistol in hand.  Fearing he was about to force his way inside the occupied residence and take hostages or harm the residents, deputies rushed the subject and forcibly took him into custody.  The incident ended shortly before 6pm.

The subject was identified as Paul Lesley Voth, 60, of Nathrop.  He was transported to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.  Later he was taken by ambulance to Denver Health Center’s psychiatric unit for evaluation.  Formal charges will be determined later.

Officers from Buena Vista Police Department and Colorado State Patrol assisted in the operation.